Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Can I accelerate the rusting process?

I am Youth Pastor and I have a company cutting me some letters our of steel for a logo backdrop. I need to find the fastest way to make these uncoated (except for the oil coating) letters to rust severely. The letters are on 14 gauge steel and are cut with a laser (no rough edges). I would like to know what chemicals (or preparations) are necessary and how long it will take to rust the entire facing surface.

Thanks!

Jeremy Brown
- Bryan, Ohio
2003

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First of two simultaneous responses --

The things youth leaders are expected to do. First, scrub them with soap and water, then run them thru a dishwasher cycle. Take them outside on a wood or similar rack to make them easy to get to and out of the dirt. MIST them with a spray bottle with 4-6 teaspoons of table salt and one oz of plain vinegar [in bulk on eBay or Amazon] (per quart). Do this in the AM and The pm. They will start rusting in a day or two and get deeper and darker each additional day. Dry them in the bright sun for a day or two and coat with clear lacquer or polyurethane. Both will yellow but the darkness of the rust will hide most of it.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2003

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

If they are uncoated, putting them outside in our Ohio weather will do the trick. Otherwise, soak them in 5% salt Solution.

Cynthia L. Meade
- Sylvania, Ohio, USA
2003

In one of my past movies I had to do such a thing all I did was spray urine onto the things needed to be rusted. this worked within a day or to of being soaked in urine.

Jeffery Rush
- New York, USA
2006